hwcheong Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 Hi, just wonder wht to feed doctor fish. I dun know whether any fish called "Doctor Fish" this is called by the fish shop staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member sinner Posted February 20, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 20, 2004 they usually dun last in aquarium, done some research and found that they like meaty food... you can try frozen mysis shrimp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member arcanehacker Posted February 20, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 20, 2004 You have already or you wanting to get one? Unless you have a big community of fishes its not recommended coz it eats only white spots. Very difficult to wean them to feed on other stuff. Quote Why do we use "My 2 cents worth" when 1 cents are not legal tender in Singapore anymore? Shouldn't it be 5 cents worth? "Its easier to blame the 'mantis' or crabs in the tank for missing & dead livestocks.." http://arcanehacker.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gouldian Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 I went to one LFS and they told me a cleaner wrasse is a doctor fish, so if your so called doctor fish look like a cleaner wrasse below are my two cents. Read in some books that they feed on parasites riding on fishes such as angel & moray eels plus some zooz & phytos. However, I must admit, I have not successfully kept them. Maybe because, the fishes I have in my tanks are gobies, firefish seahorses that does not appreciate their services. Hope this help. Quote "Reefs, like forests, will only be protected in long term if they are appreciated" Dr. J.E.N. Veron Australian Institute of Marine Science -----------------------------------------------------------------------Member of:UEN: T08SS0098FPlease visit us here: http://www.facebook....uaristSocietySG Facebook Group: http://www.facebook....gid=34281892381 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hwcheong Posted February 20, 2004 Author Share Posted February 20, 2004 Thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Marineman Posted February 20, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 20, 2004 Thanks guys. More than 99% has any NO success to keep this fish as it feeds on parasites, better leave them in the ocean to save other fishes with parasites! The shops should not even sell these fishes due to their extremely poor survival rates in captive systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member kominato Posted February 20, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 20, 2004 Hi...can I add my experience..I have one for the last 4 months at least, I notice it will not eat any of the dried flakes, pellets or tubifex worms I feed my other fishes, but looks for ticks or other small creatures on some of my larger fishes, though none are more than 4cm long. I keep a mixture of damsels, coral beauties, clowns, ans afew others. Lately though it seems to come near my dried foods as I feed the other fishes, I dunno whether he is actually eating it also. Thanks Quote The Universal Law of Cause and Effect a.k.a the Mystic Law manifested in the Universe as Nam-Myoho-Renge-kyo. For World Peace and Human Happiness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member arcanehacker Posted February 20, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 20, 2004 More than 99% has any success to keep this fish as it feeds on parasites, better leave them in the ocean to save other fishes with parasites! The shops should not even sell these fishes due to their extremely poor survival rates in captive systems. true.. or at least warn people about their feedings.. bringing them in is like killing them off one by one.. Quote Why do we use "My 2 cents worth" when 1 cents are not legal tender in Singapore anymore? Shouldn't it be 5 cents worth? "Its easier to blame the 'mantis' or crabs in the tank for missing & dead livestocks.." http://arcanehacker.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponsor Glare Posted February 20, 2004 Sponsor Share Posted February 20, 2004 I have one that feeds on cyclopeze. THe cleaner wrasse dont actually feed on the white spots, just parasites and dead tissue on the fish. They are actually notoriously difficult to keep and feed, but if you can find a good specimen, it will thrive in an aquarium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponsor eaquarist Posted February 20, 2004 Sponsor Share Posted February 20, 2004 Cannot agree more to the idea of not selling them..so never did! So glad that folks at SRC are all responsible reefers....in fact, the cleaner wrasse is such an obligate specialist in its parasite diet that it can even pester fish and stress them out when parasites are not available. EAP is looking at another alternative to cleaner wrasse, a better candidate for the aquarium, will announce when stock of this fish is available and of course, tested hardy and safe by us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member aStRoBo| Posted February 20, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 20, 2004 above advises are true.. better dun buy doctor fish.. won't survive for long.. get a cleaner shrimp better.. Do you know: damsels and chromis actually eat parasites on other fishes body too.(dunnoe if it's true, read it somewhere on the net) i had experience with my green chromis, bouncing themselves onto YT big body, tink they are cleaning for YT, and YT volunteered itself. No damaged done on YT. juz my view, doesnt mean to be true. Quote Everything's sold. Back in 2yrs time. If it's a WRX, it gotta be STI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponsor Pinnacle Posted February 20, 2004 Sponsor Share Posted February 20, 2004 got one from ML 3 months ago... i saw that it was eating food that henry fed it and bought it.... still surviving and snatching food from my tangs and ricordea (mysis shrimps placed on the ric).... well, i'm quite lucky to get one that feed on the things on the skins of my tangs and anything that i throw in for the feed.... Now, my cleaner shrimp has retired and stopped cleaning my tangs.... Quote Good is not enough if Better is expected and Best is possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neutronics Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 Many people in US suggest that neon gobies are good substitute for cleaner wrasse as they do regular cleaning as much. But has anyone ever seen these gobies being sold in LFS? I have yet to see one really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terryz_ Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 The price would be 10 times the price of cleaner wrasse... Got one in henry's display tank... Can go and see... Very cute but short lifespan of 1-2 years if i am not wrong... Quote Member of: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member AquaRa Posted February 26, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 26, 2004 don't get cleaner wrasses. use cleaner shrimps instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member nicholasloh Posted February 26, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 26, 2004 Let me tell u my X-perience! CLeaner Shrimp likes to slack off and always hide in the rocks. Cleaner fish is much better, but tolerates less than perfect water. When finding cleaner wrasse, look for those that look healthy, not those that hav hunchback. My two eats almost everything. Try Frozen Brine shrimps my goes crazy over them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Eric Posted February 29, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 29, 2004 Hi, just wonder wht to feed doctor fish. I dun know whether any fish called "Doctor Fish" this is called by the fish shop staff. Let the cleaner go hungry for 2-3days then put in some peel market prawn meat. They will wack them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member flubberina13 Posted February 29, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted February 29, 2004 Let the cleaner go hungry for 2-3days then put in some peel market prawn meat. They will wack them. It's cleaner wrasse that you are talking about here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Achilles Tang Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 I strongly recommend that cleaner shrimps be employed for cleaning functions instead of doctor fish aka cleaner wrasses. They indeed have a poor survival record in captivity and will perish quickly once their food source aka parasites, finishes. That is, if they even survive the accimatization period! I have not kept cleaner wrasses for many years because of this reason until I picked one up that was kept for weeks in a LFS AND feeding on frozen cyclopeze and frozen food! What a lucky find! To date, its been alive for about 5 months and still counting! Doctorfishes removed from reefs cause a direct impact on the healthy fish population there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member joachimsim Posted March 2, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted March 2, 2004 I Beg to differ mine eats Frozen Brine Shrimps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponsor Pinnacle Posted March 2, 2004 Sponsor Share Posted March 2, 2004 I think it's a matter of luck whether you get one that eats fish food other than the "things" on the skins of fish. Based on my experience, cleaner shrimp, is quite effective in "cleaning" the fish initially, however, after sometimes, it gets a bit lazy and stops working on the fish unless the fish is very near them and remains stationary. Doctor fish, however, will follow the fish wherever it goes and cleans the stuff off the fish. They are quite persistent in doing it. They are quite clever to hide during the night and appeared only during feeding time. If you can get one that feed on fish food, it should have no problem surviving for a very long time.... i couldn't imagine what would happen to my tangs without them.... Quote Good is not enough if Better is expected and Best is possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member espresso Posted March 2, 2004 SRC Member Share Posted March 2, 2004 mine eat frozen mysis shrimp(small)...Doing quite well.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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